Ridley sat up. “I did something tonight. Something I probably shouldn’t have.”
Jackson finally selected a pair of sweatpants and pulled them on. He padded over to the other side of the bed and slid beneath the covers. “Does this have anything to do with Nick’s insane behavior tonight?”
Ridley bit her lip. “Um, it might. I sort of told him about Raina’s fertility issues and how she wants to have a baby. I may have suggested that he make her the same offer he made us.”
Jackson sat straight up in bed, dragging the covers off her. “You did what? Why would you do that? I thought you wanted Nick to stay away from her?”
Ridley drew her knees up to her chest. “I know, I know! That’s what I thought was best, but you didn’t see the way he was looking at her. I think he really loves her, Jackson.”
Jackson made a noncommittal sound. “You may be right. I’ve actually never seen Nick like this over a woman. Any woman. But still, that doesn’t mean I think he should offer to be her sperm donor.”
“If he offers to father her child, I very much doubt if he’ll be donating in a cup.”
Jackson smirked. “Well, yeah. This is my brother we’re talking about.”
“I’m worried she’ll regret this. Raina pretends to be so modern and unaffected, but she’s not. I think inside she wants the same things I do. Family. And not by some guy who’s a random number in a database.”
“Is this about your dad?”
“What? No! This is about Raina.”
“I know you love your sister, but I think you’re also worried about the baby. Growing up without a father. Without even knowing who he is…”
“Okay. It’s a little about that. I just don’t want her to do something she’ll regret because she feels like she’s running out of time. I’d rather she gets pregnant by someone who cares about her than some guy she doesn’t even know. No matter what else happens, I know Nick would love his child.”
“That is, without a doubt, true. And she would have a big, rambling, loving family to help her out if she needed it. No matter what, Alexanders stick together.”
Ridley clapped her hands over her face and fell back against her pillows. “I really hope this doesn’t end up being a disaster.”
“Come on, let’s go to sleep. There’s nothing more we can do about it tonight. I doubt Nick is going to kidnap your sister and steal her away somewhere. You can always go check on her in the morning.”
“Okay,” Ridley agreed. But even after they were snuggled under the covers and Jackson had her spooned right up against his chest, it was a long time before she was able to fall asleep.
CHAPTER SIX
THE BUSTLING TERMINAL did nothing to soothe Raina’s nerves as they waited for their flight to board. Nick had woken her at the ungodly hour of four a.m. so they could catch the first flight to Vegas leaving from Norfolk International.
The past two hours had been a flurry of excitement. He’d loaned her a small suitcase and they’d stopped at the store so she could buy a few weekend outfits. He’d been able to get tickets in first class so at least she would have enough room on the flight to stretch out a little and rest her head. She typed out a text to Sam and then sent it before switching off her phone.
She could already feel the beginning of a migraine swimming around the back of her skull.
She glanced over at Nick, surprised to find he looked almost as nervous as she felt. She couldn’t help wondering if he was having second thoughts about this whole crazy plan. After all, the majority of the benefits to this alliance were on her side. She was going to get the baby she’d always wanted, an extended family and support system, and a doting father to help her care for the child.
What was he getting? A wife who acted like she could barely tolerate him.
“I’m sorry.”
He looked up from the magazine he was reading, some kind of business journal with a picture of a stack of coins on the front.
“Sorry? For what?”
Raina shrugged. “I’ve been nothing but bitchy to you this whole time. What you’re doing is really sweet. I can’t pretend I understand all this yet, but I do appreciate it. A lot.”
He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling slightly at the edges. Her stomach did that weird drop-and-roll thing again. She coughed and sat up straighter, hoping to get her equilibrium back.
“I told you. I’m getting something pretty huge out of this deal, too. I get to be married to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. There are tons of men who’d pay good money to be in my shoes right now, believe me.”
She smiled at his joke because she knew he’d been trying to amuse her. But inside, she couldn’t help wondering about the women in Nick’s past. Had he ever wanted to marry any of them? Surely his family was used to seeing a different woman on his arm every year. They probably wouldn’t even try to get to know her since she was more than likely just the flavor of the month, anyway.